Click your browser's Back button at any time to return to the Matches page at the point you left it.

Friendly: Donaghadee 18 - 24 Cooke (18/09/99)

"DONAGHADEE "COOKED"

Shortly before the kick-off last Saturday, the heavy rain eased but the wind didn't. A driving drizzle lasted all afternoon and did not please anyone much. Donaghadee were taking on yet another stiff team in their heavy early-season schedule. This time the opposition was Cooke, a team which is looking to win the Section above Donaghadee this year. They began this friendly looking like their ambitions were entirely reasonable. After half an hour they had scored 17 points to the 6 Donaghadee had gained from two penalties.

Suddenly the home side came to life with a sustained attack which ranged twice across the field with the ball going through many pairs of hands before Conor Hamilton brushed aside the despairing tackles to crash over for some satisfaction to those with home allegiances.

At half-time Chris Beattie was forced to go off with an elbow injury. He was replaced by John Todd who hoped that the magic was still there. Donaghadee began the half determined to do better. They camped out for a time on the Cooke line, but significantly failed to convert this territorial advantage into points. When Cooke eventually forced their way upfield they kicked the ball dead. Instead of taking the drop-out and returning the play downfield, Donaghadee opted for the scrum back. Cooke won possession and scored a try which was immediately converted to make the score 24-11. Donaghadee will really have to get their decision making sorted out. There can only be one, or at most two designated voices heard, i.e. the team captain and the leader of the forwards. No one else, because referees will always do whatever is the first option spoken.

Encouragingly, Donaghadee came straight back into the game. They set up their tents at the Cooke end once again. As often happens this prolonged pressure brought its own reward, Aaron Martin forcing his way over after a sweet inside pass from Paul Blewitt. Donaghadee continued to play well, although a combination of over-eagerness and a slippery ball conspired to break their best moves down.

The match came to an abrupt and premature end when one of the Cooke players, David Thompson, was injured by a loose arm on the Adam's Apple and had to be stretchered off. Initially he looked quite badly hurt, and the referee rightly blew for no-side. An ambulance was called for and arrived almost instantly, but all concerned were encouraged to see the player on his feet for a short while before the ambulance people put him back on the stretcher for the trip to hospital. The Cooke President has informed Donaghadee that David was not kept in hospital, and was allowed home after examination. Donaghadee RFC would like to extend their best wishes to David, and hope to see him again soon, hopefully back on the field."